Interior

Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies

Purpose: This programmatic request
will be used to repair and restore aging hatchery facilities across the
country.

Importance: Tribal hatcheries have
an important role in maintaining and protecting wild salmon stock. This
funding will help to ensure the safe and effective operation of these
hatcheries which are vital to tribes across the country.

Purpose: The City of Blaine would
utilize this funding to continue progress on a new wastewater treatment
plant.

Importance: The wastewater treatment
plant is necessary in order for the City of Blaine to adapt to
changing water treatment technology, support the growth of the
surrounding community, and meet increasing state and federal water
quality requirements. In addition to creating direct construction jobs,
this project also maintains vital economic opportunities for the
region.

.........................................

Project Title: City of Edgewood Commercial
District Sewer ProjectRecipient: City of EdgewoodAmount: $1,000,000 Location: King and Pierce Counties,
Washington

Purpose: With this funding, the
City of Edgewood will build new sewer mainlines and three pump
stations.

Importance: With virtually no sewer
service, this project will ensure access to a sewer system for resident
while mitigating environmental risks by reducing the number of septic
systems.

Purpose: The City of Fircrest
would utilize this funding to replace aging, deteriorating clay sewer
lines.

Importance: The project will
increase public health and safety by ensuring reliability of the city’s
sewer system and will allow for future residential growth and economic
development.

.........................................

Project Title: City of Union Gap South
Broadway Water and Sewer ProjectRecipient: City of Union GapAmount: $1,000,000 Location: Union Gap, Washington

Purpose: This funding would allow the City of
Union gap to design and expand water and sewer service in the South
Broadway area of Union Gap, where most citizens still use domestic
water from shallow wells and dispose of sewage with on-site septic
systems.

Importance: In addition to providing
direct jobs in the construction industry, this project will ensure
access to a water and sewer system for residents while mitigating
environmental risks by reducing the number of shallow wells and septic
systems in use in the region.

Purpose: This funding would allow
the City of Walla Walla to construct an essential upgrade to the
city’s drinking water treatment plant.

Importance: In addition to
keeping local water rates affordable, this funding would protect the
community’s water supply from a dangerous water-borne pathogen that can
cause severe gastrointestinal illness.

Purpose: This programmatic
request for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and the Drinking Water
State Revolving Fund will capitalize on state clean water and drinking
water loan programs which in turn fund water quality protection
projects for wastewater treatment, pollution control, and watershed and
estuary management, as well as funding public water system
infrastructure improvement projects.

Importance: This funding is vital
to help communities continue to make important safety and efficiency
upgrades to their water infrastructure without resorting to higher user
fees. This funding is critical for the future growth and economic
development of regions all across the country.

Purpose: This programmatic
request for the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program
funds collaborative, science-based solutions to the most critical forest
health problems across the country.

Importance: Millions of
acres of publicly-owned forests are in poor health, putting people and
the environment at risk. Forest treatments funded by the Collaborative
Forest Landscape Restoration Program reduce fire risks, restore forest
health, build the forest’s resilience to climate change, and stimulate
the local economy.

Purpose: The Columbia River
Gorge Bi-State Advisory Committee would utilize this funding to continue
economic development in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area,
including support of local businesses.

Importance: In addition to
supporting infrastructure projects in the Gorge area, this funding will
leverage jobs, including in the renewable energy, aerospace, high-tech,
health care, and wine industries.

Purpose: With this
programmatic, technical correction, Beacon Hill Sewer District will be able to
replace an aging pump station, replace a concrete water reservoir, and upgrade
the water supply system serving Cowlitz County residents.

Importance: This project would
improve public health and safety by ensuring the continuation of water supply
service to customers, providing adequate fire flows at all locations within the
zone, and creating construction jobs for the upgrades.

Purpose: With this funding, the
Trust Board of Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve will acquire
development rights on more than 800 acres of farmland.

Importance: In addition to
protecting this land on Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve from
subdivision and development, this funding will also make the area more
accessible to the public by connecting existing trail corridors.

Purpose: The U.S. Forest Service would
utilize this funding to eliminate invasive species and protect water
quality in the Puget Sound region.

Importance: In addition to providing important
environmental benefits by eliminating damaging invasive species, this
program also makes urban parks safer and increases use, resulting in
improved human health and well-being.

Purpose: Using this funding, the
National Park Service will collaborate with state and federal agencies
and other organizations to create a management and interpretation plan
for the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail.

Importance: In
addition to serving as an important recreational resource for Eastern
Washington, the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail serves as an
economic driver in the region by creating family-wage jobs in the
tourism and hospitality industries.

Purpose: This funding would
enable both the Spokane Tribe of Indians and the Colville Tribe to
employ law enforcement officers to patrol Lake Roosevelt and its
shoreline to enforce federal laws as well as tribal health and safety
laws.

Importance: These funds would play a direct
role in maintaining public safety while ensuring safe and secure access
to the Grand Coulee Dam and Lake Roosevelt.

Purpose: This programmatic
request would be used to address the problem of deteriorating,
unmaintained Forest Service roads that contribute to the backlog of
maintenance needs.

Importance: In addition to
increased watershed health and resiliency, millions of taxpayer dollars
will be saved over the long-term by reducing maintenance and
mitigation costs by reducing the overall road infrastructure on Forest
Service lands.

Purpose: This funding would be
used to implement pollution abatement projects aimed at reducing toxic
pollutants in water, sediment, wildlife, and fish along the lower 146
miles of the Columbia River.

Importance: Continued efforts to
reduce toxics and pollution in the lower Columbia River and to restore
ecosystem health would benefit recovery of the commercial fishing
industry, assist with salmon recovery efforts, and contribute to the
economies of local communities.

.........................................

Project Title: Mason County PUD Water System
ReplacementRecipient: Mason County Public Utility
District Amount: $600,000 Location: Hoodsport, Washington

Purpose: Mason County Public
Utility District will utilize this funding to complete rehabilitation
of the Canal Mutual water system.

Importance: In addition to providing
much-needed improvements in drinking-water quality and water system
capacity, the water system replacement project will help spur economic
growth in the county and will provide affordable drinking water for the
predominantly low- to moderate-income residents served by the system.

.........................................

Project Title: Monitoring and Detection for
Aquatic Invasive Species in the Columbia River BasinRecipient: Washington State UniversityAmount: $750,000Location: Vancouver, WA

Purpose: This funding would be
used to expand current capabilities to detect aquatic invasive species,
including zebra mussels, in the Columbia River Basin.

Importance: Monitoring and early
detection is essential for preventing an invasion of zebra mussels or
other invasive species into the Columbia River Basin, which would have
extensive negative ecological and economic impacts to the area.

Purpose: The National Parks Service would
utilize this funding to acquire the largest non-federal property
remaining within Mr. Rainier National Park.

Importance: Acquisition of these
lands would result in enhanced protection of the natural ecosystems of
the Park, greater protection of local watersheds, and improved
conservation of threatened and endangered species.

Purpose: This programmatic
request would be used to continue support for the 28 National Estuary
Programs nationwide which protect nationally significant estuaries by
bringing together diverse parties to identify problems, define actions
to address these problems, and implement these actions.

Importance: In addition to other
National Estuary Programs nationwide, funding will support the Lower
Columbia River Estuary Partnership, which works to restore conditions
on the Lower Columbia River through habitat restoration, toxics
reduction, and environmental education projects.

Purpose: This funding would be
utilized to further develop fish transport technology to enhance the
natural migration patterns of fish, despite the presence of man-made
obstacles such as dams, to further restoration efforts of endangered
salmon stocks.

Importance: Next-generation fish
transport technology has the potential to greatly enhance the ability of
salmon to negotiate salmon ladders. In addition to the positive
environmental effects of enhanced salmon migration, this funding could
assist in salmon stock restoration to support the Washington state
fishing industry, strengthening jobs in the region.

Purpose: This funding would allow the U.S.
Forest Service to acquire parcels of land on the Pacific Crest
National Scenic Trail that runs along the entire West Coast.

Importance: Acquisition of these
parcels would increase environmental protection, reduce land management
complexities, and ensure the continued safe recreational use of the
Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail.

Purpose: This funding would
further the Consortium’s research efforts, which supports biotechnology
and renewable energy market development, as well as support the
transfer of technologies in order to create economic development.

Importance: The commercialization
of academic research findings has the potential to improve the
competitiveness of U.S. agriculture and forestry and to develop new
renewable energy industries. In Washington state, this funding would aid
the agriculture and forestry industries in becoming more competitive
and would create jobs as new technologies become commercialized.

Purpose: This funding would be
used to implement the Puget Sound Action Agenda to further efforts to
restore the Puget Sound ecosystem.

Importance: Puget Sound faces
considerable environmental challenges such as water pollution, increased
toxicity, and sharp declines in the population of fish and wildlife.
This funding would allow the Puget Sound Partnership to collaborate
with federal, state, local, and private resources to begin to address
these significant problems.

Purpose: Soos Creek Water and
Sewer District would utilize this funding to install a pump station and
sewer lines to replace the station, which is deteriorated and, if left
unrepaired, could spill untreated wastewater into Jenkins Creek.

Importance: The replacement station would
reduce the threat of spilling untreated wastewater into a
salmon-bearing creek and provide updated wastewater services to ensure
water quality for local citizens.

Purpose: This funding would be used to
increase public engagement in and awareness of the health of the
fragile Puget Sound ecosystem.

Importance: In addition to
providing environmental education and outreach to citizens, this funding
would further the protection of the Puget Sound, which plays an
enormous role in the economic well-being of the region.

Purpose: This funding would
support tribal participation in the cooperative natural resource
management efforts established by the Timber-Fish-Wildlife Agreement of
1987 and the Forests and Fish Report.

Importance: Throughout the Pacific
Northwest, tribes co-manage natural resources with state and federal
agencies, and this funding ensures that tribal participation continues
as required through cooperative agreements and helps enhance and
preserve the natural resources of Washington state.

Purpose: This funding would allow
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to acquire key parcels within the
stewardship area surrounding the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge.

Importance: Acquisition of these lands would
result in enhanced protection of the natural ecosystems of the Refuge,
greater protection of local watersheds, and improved conservation of
threatened and endangered species.

Purpose: This funding would be
used to support the Colville, Kalispel, Spokane, Coeur d’Alene, and
Kootenai Tribes to fulfill federal, natural resources management
mandates primarily focused on fish and wildlife habitat protection and
restoration, and fish and wildlife population. management.

Importance: Funding would support
fulfillment of federal mandates, while also supporting jobs in areas
of Washington state that have historically high unemployment rates.

Purpose: This is a programmatic
increase request that would support the thirty-four Urban Indian Health
Centers across the U.S. that provide culturally appropriate health
services to many Native Americans, including primary care as well as
outreach and referral services.

Importance: This vital program is necessary
to meet the health needs of Native Americans living in urban areas, and
specifically is important for Washington state which houses two of
these programs: the Seattle Indian Health Board in Seattle and the
NATIVE project in Spokane.

Purpose: This is a programmatic
increase request that would support tribal participation in the U.S.-
Canada Pacific Salmon Treaty, created in 1985 through the cooperative
efforts of the tribes, state governments, United States and Canadian
governments and sport commercial fishing interests.

Importance: Funds allocated to
the U.S.-Canada Pacific Salmon Treaty foster collaboration between
tribes and other regional, state, and federal entities, and support
applied research, data gathering, and monitoring efforts that advance
the overall salmon management as required by the treaty.